Device for clearing dental mirrors



July 23, 1958 Filed Dec.

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BY KM/ M United States Patent 3,393,416 DEVICE FOR CLEARING DENTAL MIRRORS Harold C. Kilpatrick, Smith Ridge Road, New Canaan, Conn. 06840 Filed Dec. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 511,488 8 Claims. (Cl. --104.92)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dental mirror clearing device having a base and vessel mounted thereon for holding a body of sterilizing detergent solution, the vessel having a vertically extending wall of annular form defining an opening, a wick of greater length than width supported in a horizontally extending position at the opening, at least one end of the wick extending into the vessel and functioning by capillary attraction to saturate the horizontally extending wick over which a dental mirror can be vertically moved to clear the mirror, the base including an open top trough of annular form having its outer periphery extending radially outward beyond the vessel and functioning to catch solution dripping from the dental mirror when the latter is moved radially outward from the open ing after the mirror has been vertically moved over the saturated horizontally extending wick.

My invention relates to a device for clearing dental mirrors.

It has been proposed heretofore to clear a dental mirror in a body of sterilizing detergent solution. While immersing a mirror in a body of such solution usually eliminates fogging, such dipping causes splashing of liquid and often does not remove from the mirror all of the debris adhering thereto which is produced during tooth preparation. This is particularly true when the debris is mucilaginous in character and tends to adhere tenaciously on the mirror which is objectionable.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved device for elfectively overcoming objectionable fogging and removing debris from a dental mirror to clear the mirror. I accomplish this by providing structure to maintain a wick in a horizontally extending position, saturating the wick with a sterilizing detergent solution, moving a dental mirror vertically over and in physical contact with the surface of the saturated wick to remove objectionable fogging and debris from the mirror and clear the latter, and providing an open top trough of annular form having its outer periphery extending radially outward beyond the vessel and functioning to catch solution dripping from the dental mirror when the latter is moved radially outward from the opening after the mirror has been moved over the saturated horizontally extending wick.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved device of this kind which not only effectively wipes off all of the debris adhering to the mirror but also forms a coating on the mirror which tends to prevent fogging.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view diagrammatically illustrating a device embodying my invention for clearing dental mirrors; FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and FIGS. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views similar to FIG. 1 illustrating modifications of my invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the device which I have shown embodying my invention comprises a body 10 including a base 11 and a vertical side wall 12 of annular form extending upward therefrom. The base 11 and upstanding side wall 12 form a vessel 14 having an open top defining an opening 15. The base 11 projects radially outward from the side wall 12 and at its periphery is formed with an upward extending rim 16 to form an open top drip trough 17 which is disposed about and encircles the vessel 14.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a wick 18 which is supported in a horizontally extending position at the opening 15. The wick 18, which is slender, desirably comprises an elongated mass 19 of soft material like cotton, for example, through which extends a flexible wire represented by a dotted line 20 in FIG. 1. Although I do not wish to be limited thereto, I have found that a conventional pipe cleaner of the kind available on the market can be advantageously used for the wick 18, such a pipe cleaner including a flexible wire about which is disposed an elongated soft mass of cotton, the diameter of the cleaner in transverse section being in the neighborhood of about one-eighth inch with the flexible wire extending therethrough and concealed from view by the soft cotton mass.

The wick 18 preferably is fixed to diametrically opposite sides of the side wall 12 to maintain the wick taut in a horizontally extending position at the opening 15. I accomplishthis by forming apertures 21 and 22 at diametrically opposite sides of the side wall 12 adjacent to the open end of the vessel 14. The wick 18 extends through both of the apertures 21 and 22 with one end 18a, which projects outside the vessel 14 through the aperture 22, being bent against the outer surface of the side wall 12 to fix and anchor the end 18a of the wick 18 at the region of the aperture 22. The part of the wick 18 extending outside the vessel 14 through the aperture 21 is bent over the top edge of the side wall 12 at 18b and depends downward within the vessel 14 adjacent to the side wall with the opposite end of the wick at the bottom of the vessel 14.

The vessel 14 is adapted to hold a body 23 of suitable sterilizing detergent solution, such as the solution commerically known as Butler Clear Dip or the like having as its active ingredient 0.1% benzalkonium chloride and 99.9% inert ingredients. The lower end 180 of that part of the wick depending downward within the vessel 14 is immersed in the body 23 of the sterilizing detergent solution, as shown in FIG. 1. The entire wick 18 becomes saturated with the solution due to solution being drawn through the wick by capillary attraction. When it becomes necessary to clear a dental mirror 24 to eliminate objectionable fogging and remove debris adhering thereto, the mirror is moved vertically over and in physical contact with the surface of the horizontally extending saturated wick 18. The dental mirror 24 may be inserted within the opening 15 of the vessel 14 with the top of the mirror at the level of the wick 18, as shown in FIG. 1; and, with a single upward strike of the mirror against the wick, an effective brushing and wiping action is obtained which will wipe the mirror clear and form a coating of sterilizing detergent solution thereon which tends to prevent fogging.

The vessel 14 desirably is filled with the sterilizing detergent solution to a level which will permit positioning the dental mirror within the vessel so that it will not be immersed in solution when the top of the mirror is at the level of the horizontally disposed wick 18. In the event there is any tendency for solution to drip from the mirror when it is being moved from the vessel 14, the trough 17 serves to catch and collect solution that may drip from the mirror.

The rim 16 may be formed with vertically extending recesses 25 which extend downward from the top edge thereof and in which dental burrs 26 may be conveniently held in upright positions. Further, a dry wick 27 of inverted U-shape may have its downward extending legs positioned in adjacent recesses 25. The wick 27, which is in the form of a loop, may be of the same kind as the wick 18 and serves as a dry wick. After moving a dental mirror over and in physical contact with the saturated wick 18 to clear the mirror, the mirror can then be moved vertically over and in physical contact with the closed end of the dry wick 27 to wipe the mirror dry.

In FIG. 3 I have shown a modification of my invention which differs from the embodiment just described and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein debris removed from a dental mirror falls into a disposable holder 130 like a paper cup, for example, rather than into the body of sterilizing detergent solution. The device in FIG. 3 comprises a body 110 including a base 111 and a vertical side wall 112 of annular form extending upward therefrom. The base 111 and upstanding side wall 112 form a chamber or receptacle 131 having an open top. The base 111 projects radially outward from the side wall 112 and at its periphery is formed with an upward extending rim 116 to form an open top drip trough 117 which is disposed about and encircles the chamber or receptacle 131.

The top part of the side wall 112 forms the inner :side wall of a vessel 114 which is of annular form and disposed about and encircles the receptacle 131. The vessel 114 is U-shaped in section and has an open top closed by a removable closure member 132 which is resilient in character and formed with outer and inner flanges 132a and 13212, respectively, adapted to frictionally engage the outer surfaces of the spaced side walls of the vessel 114 at the open top thereof.

A wick 118 is supported in a horizontally extending position at the opening 115 which is defined by the vessel 114 and above the chamber 131. The wick 118, which may be like the wick 18 shown in FIG. 1 and described above, includes an elongated soft mass 119 of material like cotton, for example, through which a flexible wire 120 extends. The wick 118 passes through apertures 121 and 122 at diametrically opposite sides of the side wall 112 adjacent to the open end of the receptacle 131. The ends 118a and 118s of the wick 118 project outside the receptacle 131 into the vessel 114 and are bent against the outer surface of the side wall 112 to fix and anchor both ends of the wick at the regions of the apertures 121 and 122. Further, both ends 118a and 118s of the wick depend downward in the vessel 114 to the bottom thereof.

The vessel 114 is adapted to hold a body 123 of suitable sterilizing detergent solution which may be like the solution described above and employed in the FIG. 1 embodiment. The entire wick 118 becomes saturated with solution due to solution being drawn through the wick by capillary attraction.

The device shown in FIG. 3 and just described can be employed to clear a dental mirror in the same manner as in the embodiment first described and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When debris is removed from a dental mirror by moving it vertically over and in physical contact with the saturated wick 118, the mirror is subjected to a brushing and wiping action which effectively removes all debris adhering thereto. The debris removed from the dental mirror falls into the disposable holder 130 which may be thrown away and replaced by a fresh holder for the succeeding patient. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, therefore, debris does not fall into the body of sterilizing detergent solution employed to saturate the wick and more economical use of the solution is effected.

In FIG. 4 I have shown another embodiment of my invention which is like the embodiment first described and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 4 I provide an electrical heating element 234 for heating the body 223 of sterilizing detergent solution held in the vessel 214. The side wall 212 is formed with an opening 235 adjacent to the base 211 to receive an apertured member 236 which is sufliciently resilient so that it will.snugly fit in the opening 235 and provide a fluid-tight seal. The apertured member 236 receives and holds the electrical heating element 234 and is formed of suitable material which electrically insulates the heating element from the side wall 212.

An electrical cord-237 having two conductors 237a and 23% insulated from one another is connected to that part of the electrical heating element 234 accessible at the outside of the side wall 212. The cord 237 extends downward through a passage 238 in the base 211 to the bottom thereof. The cord 237 then extends radially outward to the rim 216 in a passage 239 formed at the bottom of the base 211. The conductors 237a and 23717 of the cord 237 are adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy. The heating element 234 may comprise a cartridge having an electric wire or the like having sufficient resistance to generate heat when connected to a source of electrical energy. A protective hood 240 formed of insulating material may be fixed at 241 to the outer surface of the side wall 212 at the vicinity of the heating element 234 to protect the latter from any liquid that may collect in the open top drip trough 217. The hood 240 completely envelops the outer part of the heating element 234 and that part of the base 211 in which the passage 238 is formed.

The electrical heating element 234 heats the body 223 of sterilizing detergent solution, whereby the wick 218 becomes saturated with solution heated to an elevated temperature. With this arrangement a dental mirror can be cleared more elfectively to eliminate mirror fogging and remove debris adhering thereto. Moreover, the tendency for any liquid to drip from the cleared mirror is minimized.

Modifications of the embodiments of the invention which I have described and illustrated will occur to those skilled in the art, so that I do not desire to be limited to the particular arrangements set forth. Therefore, I intend in the claims to cover all those modifications and features which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A device for clearing a dental mirror comprising a base, a vessel mounted on said base adapted to hold a body of sterilizing detergent solution, said vessel including means having a vertically extending wall of annular form defining an opening, a wick having its length greater than its width, means for supporting said wick in a horizontally extending position at the opening, at least one end of said wick extending into said vessel whereby said horizontally extending wick is adapted to be saturated by the sterilizing detergent solution and a dental mirror can be vertically moved over and in physical contact with the surface of said saturated horizontally extending wick at the opening to clear the mirror, said base including structure providing a trough of annular form having its outer periphery extending radially outward and beyond said vessel, and said last-mentioned structure providing said trough having an open top which encircles said vessel and functions to catch solution dripping from the dental mirror when the latter is moved radially outward from the opening after the mirror has been vertically moved over and in physical contact with the surface of said saturated horizontally extending wick.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said wick is elongated and slender and said means for supporting said wick in a horizontally extending position at the opening includes apertures at diametrically opposing. sides of said wall through which said wick extends, one. end of said wick being bent and bearing against the outer surface of said wall, and the other end of said wick being bent and including a vertically extending portion disposed along one of the surfaces of said wall and extending downward in said vessel, said other end being adapted to be immersed in the body of sterilizing solution and functioning to saturate said wick with solution by capillary attraction.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said other end of said wick is bent over the top edge of said vessel, and extends vertically downward and includes said vertically downward portion which is disposed along the inner surface of said wall and is adapted to be immersed in the body of sterilizing detergent solution therein.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said vertically extending wall defining said vessel extends upward from said base, said vessel having an open top defining the opening, said elongated and slender wick being formed of soft material, and said means for supporting said wick in a horizontally extending position at the opening including a flexible wire extending through said wick.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said vessel is ring-shaped and includes spaced outer and inner side walls, said inner side wall comprising said wall defining said opening, means forming a unitary part of said body to provide a chamber beneath said opening, said wick having a flexible wire extending therethrough, said means for supporting said wick in a horizontally extending position at the opening including apertures at diametrically opposite regions of said inner side wall of said vessel through which the opposing ends of said wick extend, both ends of said Wick being bent and bearing against the outer surface of the inner side wall of said vessel, and at least one bent end of said wick extending into said vessel being adapted to be immersed in the body of sterilizing detergent solution, whereby said wick will be saturated with solution by capillary attraction, and a holder removably positioned in said chamber for collecting falling debris removed from the dental mirror when the latter is vertically moved over and in physical contact with the surface of said saturated horizontally extending wick.

6. A device for clearing a dental mirror comprising a base, a vessel mounted on said base adapted to hold a body of sterilizing detergent solution, said vessel having a vertically extending wall of annular form defining an opening, a wick having its length greater than its width, means for supporting said wick in a horizontallyextending position at the opening, at least one end of said wick extending into said vessel whereby said horizontally extending wick is adapted to be saturated by the sterilizing detergent solution and a dental mirror can 'be vertically moved over and in physical contact with the surface of said saturated horizontally extending wick at the opening to clear the mirror, and electrical heating means for heating the body of sterilizing detergent solution adapted to be held in said vessel.

7. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which said structure providing said trough includes a vertically extending wall of annular form defining the outer periphery of said trough, a dry wick having its length greater than its width, and means for mounting said dry wick at the top part of said last-mentioned wall, the dental mirror after being moved over and in physical contact with the saturated horizontally extending wick being thereafter movable over said dry wick to wipe the mirror dry.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which said ver tically extending wall defining the outer periphery of said trough is formed with spaced vertically extending recesses which extend downward from the top edge thereof, and said dry wick being of inverted U-shape and having its downwardly projecting legs extending into said recesses which function as said means for mounting said dry wick at the top part of said last-mentioned wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,245,342 11/1917 Holt 1l8-268 2,987,036 6/ 1961 Anderson 118-268 3 ,075,220 1/ 1963 Ellman 15-506 XR 3,094,068 6/ 1963 Gericke 1l8260 XR CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

